I'm a new conure owner. Any tips for owning a conure?
- Thread starter Thyme
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T00tsyd
Well-known member
Syd is just that bit older and I made the mistake of buying a couple of toys that although they looked good were in fact too heavy for him. As a result he avoided them. I managed to redesign them a bit so they would loop up rather than swing and knock him over, but I could understand why he was a bit concerned.
The most successful toys have been with bells and hoops and easily shaken/climbed on, so I have continued with toys the size for budgies and he loves them. Other than that he is now into shredding and general destruction but again they need to be on the small side. He also loves to swing, and loves it when I re-arrange his cage to make it difficult to navigate. I keep the bottom half pretty clear as he likes to stretch but the top - well we go to town.
Jen5200
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- Mar 27, 2017
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Conures are great! Take your time, build a good trusting relationship with her. If she's not already on a good diet that includes lots of veggies and fruit - it's easier to start introducing these things when she's young. Lots of great information on this forum about diet and recipes.
I have a sun and a green cheek, and they are adorable. I agree with the previous statement, mine have little interest in toys that are too heavy or bulky. Toys may be a little bit trial and error while you figure out what she likes. Mine love to shred "bird kabobs" that I get from Amazon. They also love most climbing toys (ropes, wood ladders, swings, hoops), anything with bells and some smaller wood toys to chew. I am careful with bells - some are cheaply made and I worry about small parts coming off and being swallowed. Tango's absolute favorite toy is a larger stainless steel bell that hangs by itself- he has some epic battles with it. It's the only toy that I no longer rotate out of the cage - he'll go looking in the toy box for it if I do and drags it back out if I put it away. Don't worry if she doesn't like some toys the first time they go in - in my experience some have not become popular until the second or third time they've been in the cage. Some birds are afraid of new things - so if you see signs of fear, you could leave new toys outside the cage within visual range for a couple of days before putting them inside so she can give them a good look over before they come into her "house".
I have a sun and a green cheek, and they are adorable. I agree with the previous statement, mine have little interest in toys that are too heavy or bulky. Toys may be a little bit trial and error while you figure out what she likes. Mine love to shred "bird kabobs" that I get from Amazon. They also love most climbing toys (ropes, wood ladders, swings, hoops), anything with bells and some smaller wood toys to chew. I am careful with bells - some are cheaply made and I worry about small parts coming off and being swallowed. Tango's absolute favorite toy is a larger stainless steel bell that hangs by itself- he has some epic battles with it. It's the only toy that I no longer rotate out of the cage - he'll go looking in the toy box for it if I do and drags it back out if I put it away
. Don't worry if she doesn't like some toys the first time they go in - in my experience some have not become popular until the second or third time they've been in the cage. Some birds are afraid of new things - so if you see signs of fear, you could leave new toys outside the cage within visual range for a couple of days before putting them inside so she can give them a good look over before they come into her "house".
Flboy
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- Dec 28, 2014
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Welcome to you, some of the biggest advice, is to not build up a pattern of always responding to her yelling for attention! Also understand there is a difference between nipping and biting or just mouthing! Love her to bits!!
Skittys_Daddy
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- Jan 6, 2014
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(1987-1989) R.I.P.
Congrats on your new addition! Conures are just the best.
My only advice is this- you can kiss your social life and your privacy goodbye. LOL.
My only advice is this- you can kiss your social life and your privacy goodbye. LOL.
FlyBirdiesFly
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- Jul 30, 2017
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Conures are affectionate, playful, fun little birds! Mine likes anything shreddable, from paper to wicker balls to bird kabobs. He does not like plastic or hard wood.
My GC Conure is biting a lot, he's only 4 months old and I have had him for almost two month. He's very active and broke almost all the toys I bought. Now he's starting to bit a lot. He bit my 8 year old's pinky yesterday and it started to bleed. I am honestly starting to not like him. But I don't want to give up I really want to try to make him more friendly
Please any help!
Please any help!
clark_conure
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- Jul 14, 2017
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- A crossover Quaker Scuti (F), A Sun conure named AC, A Cinnamon Green Cheek conure Kent, and 4 budgies, yellow (m), clark Jr. (m), Dot (f), Zebra(f).
You asked about toys, Mine loves these:
First the abacus! https://www.petsolutions.com/images/...s/15581764.jpg I locked it into a triangle with a soldering iron because he would just dismantle it but now he will play with this for an hour at a time.
Also his ball https://www.worldforpets.com.au/atta...?ts=1362725000 these wireframe balls, normally come on a string, of four, you just undo the knot and remove one and he has his own basketball to play and fight with.
Then this thing, this three way mirror. http://www.prestigepetproducts.com.a...98-31037_1.jpg also a favorite. He chew the edge all day while picking fights with himself.
Finally my bird actually plays with this the right way: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0702/9579/products/618940310921_large.jpeg?v=1430431084 he dunks it and pulls it out and ducks it again....figured it out all on his own.
First the abacus! https://www.petsolutions.com/images/...s/15581764.jpg I locked it into a triangle with a soldering iron because he would just dismantle it but now he will play with this for an hour at a time.
Also his ball https://www.worldforpets.com.au/atta...?ts=1362725000 these wireframe balls, normally come on a string, of four, you just undo the knot and remove one and he has his own basketball to play and fight with.
Then this thing, this three way mirror. http://www.prestigepetproducts.com.a...98-31037_1.jpg also a favorite. He chew the edge all day while picking fights with himself.
Finally my bird actually plays with this the right way: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0702/9579/products/618940310921_large.jpeg?v=1430431084 he dunks it and pulls it out and ducks it again....figured it out all on his own.
GhostN1K
New member
I'm new to GCC also. Been a week and love the attention he/her gives me. Mine is starting not to like my wife and bites. No blood yet but stick with I was told it takes slow time lol . I was told no little kids but who knows
Last edited:
GhostN1K
New member
I was told not to get any mirror toy's. Maybe I should just wait until the bonding process is over?
Sunnyclover
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I would just not get any mirror toys for a conure. I know some people have has success with them with conures but in general I think they are a bad idea for any bird. I just don't like the idea of a sad bird looking to it's reflection for love and affection instead of an actual living being, it's impossibly heartbreaking for me to even think about.
Also, not sure you totally have to kiss your social life goodbye. To be fair I do spend like 90% of my time with the birdies but I do have a social life, my husband and I live 40 minutes from NYC and we go out regularly to plays and dinners and such. I do always have someone to put my birdies to bed on time though and to spend a bit of time with them before bed and keep the routine, so as long as you have that it's fine to go out. I would never leave my babies home alone until late at night without having someone put them in their sleep cages and cover them.
Also, not sure you totally have to kiss your social life goodbye. To be fair I do spend like 90% of my time with the birdies but I do have a social life, my husband and I live 40 minutes from NYC and we go out regularly to plays and dinners and such. I do always have someone to put my birdies to bed on time though and to spend a bit of time with them before bed and keep the routine, so as long as you have that it's fine to go out. I would never leave my babies home alone until late at night without having someone put them in their sleep cages and cover them.
Skittys_Daddy
Well-known member
- Jan 6, 2014
- 2,175
- 74
- Parrots
- Neotropical Pigeon - "Skittles" (born 3/29/10)
Cockatiel - "Peaches" (1995-2015) R.I.P.
Budgie - "Sammy"
(1989-2000) R.I.P.
Budgie - "Sandy"
(1987-1989) R.I.P.
@Sunnyclover, I was actually just being sarcastic with the whole "social life" comment.
Truth is, nobody will want one once they got birbs!
Why go out and deal with all the stupid people in the world when you can stay inside and play with birbs!!!
Seriously though, I second the "no mirrors" comments made by several members. They can lead to aggression and are known to cause hormonal problems as well.
Besides, most conures already have egos the size of houses.
Truth is, nobody will want one once they got birbs!
Why go out and deal with all the stupid people in the world when you can stay inside and play with birbs!!!
Seriously though, I second the "no mirrors" comments made by several members. They can lead to aggression and are known to cause hormonal problems as well.
Besides, most conures already have egos the size of houses.
